inform
gb/ɪnfˈɔɹm/ us/ɪnfˈɔɹm/
B1
English
~ 1900
tájékoztat, értesít, alakít, befolyásol, formál, besúg, feljelent
VERB
B1
1
tájékoztat
B1
értesít
B1
Usage pattern:
to inform [someone] [about/of something]
The teacher informed the students about the change in schedule.
A tanár tájékoztatta a diákokat az órarend változásáról.
Please inform me if you cannot attend the meeting.
Kérem, értesítsen, ha nem tud részt venni a megbeszélésen.
The police informed the family of the accident.
We will inform you as soon as we have more details.
Learner examples
The doctor informed me about my test results.
Az orvos tájékoztatott a vizsgálati eredményeimről.
He informed his boss about the problem.
Tájékoztatta a főnökét a problémáról.
Please inform her if you are late.
They informed us of the new rules.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'inform' with 'tell' and use it without specifying the person informed (e.g., 'Inform about the news' instead of 'Inform me about the news').
Meaning
Give information to someone
Collocations
inform the public
|inform someone of
|inform someone about
|inform authorities
|inform in writing
Synonyms
notify (Slightly more formal; often used in official contexts like letters or announcements.)
|
advise (Can imply giving both information and recommendations, not just facts.)
Antonyms
mislead (To give false or incorrect information instead of true facts.)
Themes
communication
|daily life
|business
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To tell someone facts or details about something.
To communicate facts, details, or knowledge to someone.
VERB
B2
2
Usage pattern:
to inform [a decision/action/design]
Her experiences abroad informed her approach to teaching.
Külföldön szerzett tapasztalatai alakították a tanításhoz való hozzáállását.
The data will inform our marketing strategy.
Az adatok alapján alakítjuk majd ki a marketingstratégiánkat.
Cultural traditions inform the design of these buildings.
Learner examples
My travel informed my ideas for the project.
Az utazásaim alakították a projekttel kapcsolatos ötleteimet.
The report will inform our choice.
A jelentés alapján hozzuk majd meg a döntést.
His past informed his work.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with 'inform' meaning 'give information' and incorrectly use a person as the object when referring to influence.
Meaning
Influence or guide development
Collocations
inform a decision
|inform policy
|inform design choices
Synonyms
guide (Emphasizes leading or directing rather than simply influencing.)
|
shape (Highlights the act of forming or molding something's outcome.)
Antonyms
ignore (To not consider or be influenced by something.)
Themes
art
|thinking
|business
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To affect or guide how something is made or done.
To have an effect on the form, style, or character of something.
VERB
C1
3
Usage pattern:
to inform [on/against someone]
He agreed to inform on his former partners in exchange for a lighter sentence.
Enyhébb büntetésért cserébe vállalta, hogy információkat ad a hatóságoknak korábbi társairól.
Someone must have informed against them, because they were arrested quickly.
Valaki biztosan besúgta őket, mert hamar letartóztatták őket.
The spy was caught after informing on the group.
Learner examples
He informed on the gang.
Besúgta a bandát a rendőrségnek.
She informed against her boss.
Feljelentette a főnökét.
They informed on their neighbors.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with simply giving information in a neutral context, but here it specifically involves wrongdoing and often secrecy.
Meaning
Report wrongdoing to authorities
Collocations
inform on someone
|inform against someone
Synonyms
betray (Implies breaking trust when revealing information about someone.)
|
report (More general; can be public and not necessarily secretive.)
Antonyms
conceal (To hide facts instead of revealing them to authorities.)
Themes
law
|crime
|communication
Definition
To tell the police or other authorities about someone's bad or illegal acts.
To secretly provide information to authorities about someone's illegal or wrong actions.
Grammar
Dictionary form
inform
IPA
GB/ɪnfˈɔɹm/
US/ɪnfˈɔɹm/
Syllables & stress
in - form (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (form)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: inform
- 3rd Person Singular: informs
- Present Participle: informing
- Past: informed
Word family
Forms
informs
verb
informing
verb
informed
verb
Core family
information
noun A2
informative
adjective B2
Related words
informer
noun
informant
noun C1
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
disinformation
noun C1
Expressions
inform on someone
1/ɪnfˈɔɹm ˈɔn sˈʌmwˌʌn/
fixed phrase
Report secretly to authorities
To secretly tell the police or other officials about someone's bad or illegal acts.
Examples
- He was afraid his friends might inform on him.
- They refused to inform on their colleagues.
inform someone of something
1/ɪnfˈɔɹm sˈʌmwˌʌn əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Tell someone specific information
To tell a person certain facts or details about something.
Examples
- Please inform me of any changes to your schedule.
- The company informed employees of the new policy.
inform yourself about something
1/ɪnfˈɔɹm jʊɹsˈɛlf əbˈaʊt sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Learn about a subject yourself
To get knowledge about something by reading or asking questions yourself.
Examples
- Before voting, you should inform yourself about the issues.
- She took time to inform herself about local customs before traveling.